Hamza opposes tying the Special Court law to the election of the president

Bedri Hamza, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), has again responded to Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s proposal to link approval of the draft law amending the Law on the Specialist Chambers with the process of electing the president.

Kurti has put forward Glauk Konjufca and Feride Rushiti as candidates for president, making this a precondition for the law to pass its second reading.

Hamza strongly criticized this approach, saying the issue was being turned into last-minute horse-trading and was not a matter concerning only the PDK.

“What we are seeing and hearing is not serious for the country or for the issues we are discussing. They are trying to turn this issue into last-minute horse-trading. I have said, and I repeat, that the law is not an issue that concerns only the PDK. The aim is to use the law as leverage to achieve a political goal: to have a political president and complete the 100 percent capture of state institutions,” Hamza said.

He stressed that the PDK would not accept what he called political blackmail in the process of electing the president.

The PDK leader also revealed that his most recent communication with the prime minister had taken place at midday. He said he had proposed that the law first pass its second reading, after which they could discuss the presidency.

“We have met and talked repeatedly. How serious can this be when there are differing positions? Our last communication was at midday, when I informed him that the PDK could allow the law to pass its second reading, and then we could talk about the president. Is that what they call an agreement? Is this what they call a law on a major issue—if he votes for it, he gets the presidency? Double standards,” Hamza said.

He pointed to contradictions in Kurti’s positions, noting that the LDK and PDK had been told they could not have a political president, while the prime minister himself was proposing political candidates.

“These are names that have not been approved, and the country has gone to elections. The president could have been elected, but not without an agreement. Not: ‘President—this is the name, take it or leave it.’ Why didn’t we have this kind of conversation three or ten days ago, or yesterday, rather than this morning? In the evening hours, they are looking for someone to blame for why they can’t capture all the institutions,” Hamza added.